Scotland switch to safer venue

Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Moldova next month has been switched to the country's capital, Chisinau. The game had originally been scheduled to be played in Tiraspol in the Transnistria region of the country on Oct 13.

However, after a meeting between the Moldovan football authorities and government officials, the game has now been switched to a safer area of the politically volatile country.

Italy were successful in their bid to have the Group Five qualifying game in Moldova switched last week. Now the Scottish Football Association have confirmed that Berti Vogts' team will play in Chisinau.

An SFA spokesman said: "The Moldovan football authorities and the Moldovan Government have decided to move the venue of the above match from Tiraspol to the capital city of Chisinau. The match will now take place at the Republican Stadium, Chisinau, kicking off at 9pm local time.

"The European Under-21 qualifying match between Moldova and Scotland will be played the day before [Oct 12] at the Dinamo Stadium in Chisinau, kicking off at 2pm local time."

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